| Catching catfish by hand is a long standing | | | | roots, while others are alarmed by the often |
| practice that dates back to when the Native | | | | dangerous practice. |
| American population caught them that way. It | | | | |
| used to be a must, of course, before the | | | | Many people who practice handfishing, or |
| types of fishing equipment we commonly think | | | | noodling, actually plant boxes in catfish |
| of came into existence. Even with | | | | rich areas, in which they hope to entice |
| rudimentary fishing equipment, people still | | | | catfish to spawn. Others simply rely on the |
| used methods of catfish fishing by hand. | | | | natural spawning grounds to attract these |
| | | | catfish. The catfish in turn spawn in these |
| Today, you are likely to see even more people | | | | areas, leaving mature males to guard their |
| searching for this seemingly new method of | | | | nest. The handfishermen then dive down to |
| fishing for catfish. Anglers are often | | | | likely areas such as submerged hollow logs, |
| challenged in a unique way by this method of | | | | rocky outcroppings, or underwater caves. |
| fishing. Most often, people are looking for | | | | They reach inside these areas, hoping to find |
| a new way to simply get fish in hand. NO | | | | catfish there, allow these fish to bite down |
| matter why you want to go catfish fishing by | | | | on their arms, and physically pull them from |
| hand, chances are you will enjoy the process. | | | | their nest. They then wrestle them to the |
| | | | bank. |
| The popularity of the sport has grown, and | | | | |
| has gotten a considerable amount of publicity | | | | Those who oppose the practice site that it is |
| since it was legalized in Missouri. Be | | | | dangerous and causes many injuries to those |
| aware, it is not as easy as it sounds. It is | | | | who partake in this sport. Indeed, it does |
| most definitely a sport to try though, | | | | cause numerous injuries. Perhaps the worst |
| especially if your passion is catfish. | | | | possibility is that you might find something |
| | | | other than catfish in the area in which you |
| There are currently eleven states that have | | | | search. Many handfishermen find the snakes, |
| legalized catfishing by hand, or 'noodling' | | | | snapping turtles, or even alligators that |
| as it is commonly called. Those eleven | | | | also inhabit these areas rather than the |
| states include Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, | | | | catfish they are seeking. In fact, most |
| Kansas, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, | | | | people who have noodled for catfish bear the |
| Oklahoma, Mississippi, Louisiana, and | | | | proof on their flesh. Scars and missing |
| Kentucky. | | | | digits are not uncommon sights in noodlers. |
| | | | |
| The way in which catfishing by hand is | | | | Those who oppose the practice of hand fishing |
| carried out is somewhat interesting, to say | | | | state that, since regulations state that |
| the least. In hand fishing, the fisherman | | | | since only mature catfish may be caught when |
| actually goes out into the water, dives down, | | | | noodling, this type of fishing might deplete |
| and reaches into likely areas to find his | | | | the catfish population. Most states do have |
| prey, and haul it, by hand, out of the water. | | | | regulations on the size of catfish which can |
| The only special equipment needed for | | | | be caught when noodling, but the fact is that |
| handfishing is gloves that help protect | | | | the spawning grounds of catfish are always |
| fishermen from the rows of sharp teeth in a | | | | heavily fished by fishermen, and there is |
| catfish's mouth. Advocates state that this | | | | absolutely no evidence what so ever that the |
| is a traditional method of fishing for | | | | practice of handfishing for catfish has |
| catfish dating back to our native American | | | | depleted the catfish population. |